Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise - Washington State University
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Washington State University
Unit Pandemic Influenza
Tabletop Emergency Exercise
0Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
Contents
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 2
Specific Exercise Objectives .................................................................................... 2
Roles and Responsibilities ............................................................................................ 3
Exercise Modules .......................................................................................................... 4
How the Exercise is Conducted.................................................................................. 4
Exercise Assumptions and Instructions...................................................................... 4
MODULE 1: Sustained Human-to-Human transmission............................................. 6
Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 8
Questions for the participants ................................................................................ 8
MODULE 2: Outbreak in the U.S. .................................................................................. 9
October 19 to November 30, 2006 .......................................................................... 9
Discussion .................................................................................................................... 11
Questions for all Participants ................................................................................ 11
MODULE 3: Suspension of Classes .............................................................................. 12
November 24 to December 27, 2006..................................................................... 12
Discussion .................................................................................................................... 15
Questions for the Participants .............................................................................. 15
MODULE 4: Business Continuity and Recovery ......................................................... 16
Questions for this Module..................................................................................... 17
1Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
INTRODUCTION
This tabletop exercise is designed to assist your unit in planning and preparing
for a pandemic or other major contagious disease outbreak that would affect
Washington State University. A tabletop exercise utilizes a fictional scenario to
review and test your emergency reactions and response. During this exercise,
participants will need to rely on their own resources to manage the incident.
Afterwards, participants meet to discuss their experience, what they’ve learned,
and suggest how your unit plan and prepare for a pandemic/contagious disease
outbreak emergency. For the purpose of this exercise, unit refers to any
organization sub-division within the University, whether Campus, College,
School, Division, Area, Department, Office or Station.
This exercise focuses on a pandemic flu event that poses a severe threat to public
health and safety. The time frame for this exercise scenario is August, 2006, until
March, 2007, when the first pandemic wave is over and Washington State
University is making plans to resume full operation
Overall Objectives
The overall goal of the exercise is to:
1. Assess how the existing emergency response structure within your unit
will address the challenges posed by a pandemic influenza event.
2. Assess how your unit will coordinate its response with your
College/Division/Area leaders and with other units that your unit interacts.
3. Identify gaps and issues to be addressed in your unit
Pandemic/Contagious Disease Plan.
4. Educate your unit personnel about contagious disease and the unique
challenges a pandemic poses to the health and well being of the WSU
community.
Specific Exercise Objectives
1. Evaluate selected aspects of responding to a pandemic within your unit.
• Travel, enforcement and quarantine
• Social distancing (cancellation of public events, e.g., lectures, theatre,
athletic events, etc.)
2Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
• How would your unit manage work-at-home or administrative leave
• Teleworking-Is your unit IT capable of managing it
• If an academic unit, could distance learning, help you maintain continuity
of the educational process
• Essential services and personnel
• Internal and external communications
• Effects of a suspension of classes or closing the University on your unit
• Continuity of Operations Planning for your unit
• What steps your unit would need to take upon the re-opening the
University
• If an academic unit, how will course crediting be managed if classes are
suspend or interrupted
• How can your unit help support students remaining on campus
• If a research unit, how would you provide for continuation of research
projects that could not be paused or interrupted
• Financial implications to your unit
2. To identify training, communication and resource needs.
Roles and Responsibilities
This should be a facilitated tabletop exercise with the following roles and
responsibilities:
Participants respond to the situation presented based upon their knowledge,
current plans and procedures.
Recorder posts group comments and takes notes
Group Facilitator moderates discussion.
3Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
Exercise Modules
The exercise scenario is divided into four distinct response situations, plus a
debriefing:
Module 1:
Sustained human-to-human transmission
Module 2:
Outbreak in the U.S.
Module 3:
Suspension of Classes
Module 4:
Business Continuity and Recovery
Exercise Debriefing
How the Exercise is Conducted
Each module will be conducted as follows:
• The Group Facilitator will introduce each module.
• In each module, scenario information and events will be provided in the order
in which they occur.
• All information will be provided to all participants.
• At the end of each module, the scenario will be suspended for questions and
discussion.
Exercise Assumptions and Instructions
A tabletop exercise is intended to be a safe environment that encourages open
and wide-ranging discussion. Differing viewpoints, even professional
disagreements, are expected.
• The scenario is plausible, and events occur as they are presented.
• Respond based on your knowledge of current plans and capabilities. You may
not use non-existent assets.
4Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
• There is no pre-determined solution to this exercise. Make your best decision
based on the circumstances presented.
• Decisions are not precedent setting and do not necessarily reflect your units
position on a given issue. This exercise is an opportunity to discuss and
present multiple options and possible solutions.
• Assume cooperation and support from other responders and agencies.
Assume that state and federal responders are initiating their plans,
procedures, WSU has activated its plans, procedures and protocols while you
are concentrating on what you need to do at your unit level. Draw upon your
own experience and knowledge of how the University works to pattern you
own response.
• The presented events, information, written material and resources serve as
the basis for discussion.
• The response process and decision-making are more important than details.
• Feel free to add, modify, delete or change the module questions to best suit
your units needs
- WHO global influenza preparedness plan
WSU Response Levels Activation Criteria
LEVEL ONE: Confirmed cases of sustained human-to-human transmission of pandemic
flu or other similar threat or serious health risk, somewhere in the world
LEVEL TWO: Confirmed cases of pandemic flu or other similar threat or serious health
risk within a 400 mile radius of Pullman
LEVEL THREE: Confirmed case(s) of pandemic flu or other similar threat or serious
health risk in a 50 mile radius of Pullman
5Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
MODULE 1: Sustained Human-to-Human transmission
The following scenario is entirely fictional (We Hope!).
August 1-October 18, 2006
• During the summer of 2006, human cases of avian H5N1
August 1
influenza continue to be reported from China, Vietnam and
Cambodia.
• However, on July 25, 2006, the Chinese Ministry of Health
reported that public health officials are investigating a
hospital-associated outbreak of H5N1 influenza. The
outbreak appears to be the result of person-to-person
transmission.
• WHO declares a Phase 4 Pandemic Alert
August • Twenty students from the University of Washington are
14 spending the summer in a special academic program in
Xiamen, China.
• Many international graduate students from South and East
Asia are arriving at WSU for continued studies for the fall
semester.
August • Thirty six students and four faculty leave WSU for a six-week
25 long exchange program to China at Shenzhen and Xi'an, as
well as Hong Kong.
• Other Faculty members from Washington State University
are also preparing to leave for studies in South and East Asia.
6Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
Sept. 16 • Over the next few weeks, additional localized outbreaks of
H5N1 influenza that involve person-to-person spread occur
in Indonesia, Vietnam and Southern China.
• The CDC announces a H5N1 vaccine specific to the current
strain is being rushed into development but it might be
twelve months before it can be distributed.
• WSU goes to Response Level One. WSU
Pandemic/Contagious Disease Plan activated.
• The WSU Emergency Operations Team (EOT) Director
schedules weekly meetings of Tier One of the EOT and the
Health and Wellness Director. He also meets weekly with
the President and Provost to up date them on the situation
status.
Sept. 21 • WHO declares a Phase 5 Pandemic Alert.
Oct. 10 • WSU Faculty and students who have been preparing to
participate in an exchange program in Europe get ready to
leave the campus for the rest of the fall semester.
Oct. 13 • The 40 students and faculty who were a part of the
exchange program in China for the last six weeks, return
home via Sea-Tac International and are traveling by bus to
the campus. Some of the students have not been feeling
well but they assume that it is because of the long trip and
the change in time zones.
Oct. 15 • The 20 Students from The UW return from their program in
China. Three of the students are feeling ill and go to UW
Student Health for treatment.
Oct. 18 • The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issues a Travel Health
Warning for those traveling to and from China and
Indonesia, and a Travel Health Precaution for those traveling
to Cambodia, Vietnam and Taiwan.
7Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
Discussion
Based on the above information, participants will have 20 minutes to consider
these questions.
Feel free to add, modify, delete or change the module questions to best suit your
units needs
Questions for the participants
1. At this stage of the scenario, WSU has gone to a Level One Alert. Based on
the planning materials provide, what does the Level One Alert mean for
your unit?
2. List the steps might your unit take at this level to make sure your unit has
made adequate preparation for a pandemic?
3. If personnel from your unit travel, internationally, what actions should your
unit take to determine whether it is prudent for unit staff t travel to
affected countries? Countries other than those already affected?
4. What could you be doing at this Level to prepare yourself and family for a
possible pandemic?
5. What other issues regarding a looming pandemic can you identify for your
unit at this point? What do you need to know that you do not know?
8Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
MODULE 2: Outbreak in the U.S.
October 19 to November 30, 2006
Oct. 19 • Nearly all of Southeast Asia has been affected by the flu with
nearly 50% mortality rates. Estimates are that 5-10,000
people have died in the last month.
• Confirmed cases of H5N1 have been reported in Los
Angeles, Chicago, New York, Boston and Washington, DC,
with ten deaths. There are suspected cases in many other
parts of the country. H5N1 appears in the Northwest as the
Washington State DOH reports three confirmed cases in
Seattle.
Oct. 20 • Other cases are confirmed in Portland and Vancouver B.C.
Washington State DOH reports that two deaths in Seattle
were from the H5N1 virus. Other deaths around the state
are being investigated with a possible H5N1 cause.
• WHO declares a Phase 6 Pandemic Alert
Oct. 26 • Several more suspected and confirmed cases of pandemic
flu appear on the west side of the State.
• After lengthy discussions WSU goes to Response Level 2
• The EOT Director provides daily updates to the President
and his Executive Emergency Management Team (EEMT).
Nov. 7 • Many more cases of suspected pandemic flu are reported in
the state.
• The Washington State DOH warn all Public Health Offices in
the State to fully activate their pandemic preparations.
Nov. 13 • National media reports that there are more than 300 cases
of H5N1 flu from all parts of the country with 155 deaths.
• Faculty notice that attendance in classes and other academic
activities is decreasing as some parents become concerned
and insist that their college student children return home.
• Officials in Washington are encouraging schools, businesses,
9Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
and organizations to cancel all public group activities such
as athletic events, meetings and non-essential functions.
• Washington State University Executives consider all of the
issues facing WSU if the need arises to suspend classes and
close the University except for essential personnel and
critical operations-based on recommendations to close if
there is a confirmed case of avian flu within a 400 mile
radius.
Nov. 17 • Regional WSU campuses are reporting increased employee
absenteeism and some employees are requesting approval
to work-at-home.
• Registrars at the regional campuses report 40-50% of the
students enrolled were not attending classes over the last
two weeks.
Nov.18- With the students gone for Thanksgiving Break WSU closely
Nov. 23 monitors the spread of the pandemic flu and the state’s and
nation’s response to the widening crisis.
10Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
Discussion
Based on the above information, the participants will have 20 minutes for
discussion.
Questions for all Participants
1. What actions are critical at Level 2 in your plan? What is the trigger for that
level?
2. What are your unit’s capabilities, procedures and possible issues regarding
faculty and staff who want to work-at-home?
3. What information about self-protection from the H5N1 flu needs to be
communicated to your unit’s students, staff and faculty?
4. What should your unit do to report possible flu cases in any unit staff/faculty?
5. With the possibility of the University suspending classes and operations, what
are the priority steps your unit needs to take at this time to get ready?
11Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
MODULE 3: Suspension of Classes
November 24 to December 27, 2006
Nov. 24 • National media are reporting hundreds of avian flu cases in
nearly all parts of the country. To date, the Washington State
Department of Health has reported more than 150 confirmed
cases in the state with 85 deaths. No cases of the flu have been
confirmed within 50 miles of Pullman, yet.
• Students still in town that can leave are leaving campus and
heading home. The President’s Office is deluged with calls
demanding that WSU suspend classes.
• Governor Gregoire holds a press conference and orders the
public school system (K-12) be closed and recommends that all
public and private colleges and universities also close.
• The President calls an emergency meeting. WSU suspends
classes. Discussion first centers on how to inform students
scattered throughout the state and country to not come back
from Thanksgiving Break. Students living in on-campus
residences will be asked to leave by Dec. 6.
• The Housing Office estimates approximately 10% of the
resident undergraduate students and 30% of the resident
graduate students will be left on campus without the means or
ability to leave.
Dec. 5 • Area hospitals and the Student Wellness Center are reporting
that they are getting many calls from people who are worried if
they have the pandemic flu. Student Health and local
emergency rooms are at full capacity. Student Health and
Pullman Regional identify the first suspected cases of H5N1 in
the county. Other cases in the county are also suspected.
• The Housing Office is receiving calls from the students
remaining in on-campus residences demanding to be able to
stay in the residence halls. Although Housing and Student
Affairs try to get as many students as possible to leave, they
have expected there would be many students who could not or
would not leave. Housing implements its plans for
12Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
accommodating the remaining students as best as they can.
• The first suspected cases of H5N1 in the county are confirmed.
Dec. 6
• WSU goes to Response Level 3
• Additional outbreaks and more deaths are reported along the
Dec. 8
I-5, I-90 and I-82 corridors.
• Human Resources indicates that the regional WSU campuses
and research sites are reporting that as many as 60% of
essential employees are not coming to work, either because of
self-shielding, caring for young children, or ill family members.
• The first student from WSU dies at Pullman Regional. Also
reports of many more ill in the residence halls as well as
throughout Pullman and the county. Several other fatalities
occur over the next few days. WSU students still in Pullman are
hard hit by the flu.
• WSU struggles to care for the remaining students in campus
residences who are becoming ill at an accelerating rate.
• Essential personnel on the Pullman campus are required to
Dec. 13
continue to come to work; only 75% report.
• More students, faculty and staff are confirmed to have the
H5N1 virus and over half of these are seriously ill.
• Pullman Regional Hospital’s resources began to be
overwhelmed.
• Shipments of food and other essentials begin to be delayed
Dec. 14
because the national transportation network has been
decimated by absenteeism.
• Food supplies for WSU Dining Services are running critically low
with only a few days supply on hand of a very limited menu.
Dining halls may have to be closed and students are
complaining of the lack of food.
• Parents and students are demanding refunds of tuition and fees.
• The Hospital is full of critical cases and is establishing triage sites
Dec. 16
and alternative care facilities around town and at the Veterinary
13Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
Teaching Hospital.
• A call for volunteers with any type of medical training to assist
with care of the ill students in the residence halls goes out.
Several Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy faculty and students
volunteer to help the Health and Wellness staff.
• Santa Claus stays home at the North Pole to avoid getting sick.
Dec.
Children everywhere are disappointed.
24/25
14Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
Discussion
Based on the above information, the Participants will have 20 minutes to
consider these questions.
Questions for the Participants
1. What should your unit be doing at Level Three that is different than the other
levels?
2. Identify all the resources needed to support your units mission-critical and
essential functions? Where might those resources be found if normal sources
are unable to provide them?
3. Should your unit supply essential personnel with N95 masks?
4. What are the issues regarding essential personnel who refuse to show up for
work?
5. What do you think the most critical issue is facing your unit at this stage in
the Pandemic?
6. Could Santa Claus use an N95 mask for protection so he could still make his
rounds?
15Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
MODULE 4: Business Continuity and Recovery
December 28, 2006 to March 1, 2007
Dec. 28 • 18 deaths have been reported in Pullman. Most of these are
students, and over a 150 students lie ill within their on-campus
residences. Quarantine and isolation doesn’t seem to help much
and is difficult to enforce.
• Local newspapers and KRFA/KWSU are reporting that nearly
6,000 people have died in Washington State and 600,000
nationwide.
• At WSU-Pullman, fewer than half of the essential employees are
showing up for work and the number of available personnel for
some critical operations threatens the ability of those operations
to continue. Human Resources attempts to identify those
employees who may have recovered from the flu in order to fill
vacant essential positions.
• Pullman Regional is refusing to accept any more patients since
the hospital and all alternate care facilities are overwhelmed.
They have asked the state for permission to utilize more facilities
to expand their capacity.
Jan. 8 • The Strategic National Stockpile has received the newly
created H5N1 flu vaccine to be distributed through a point
of dispensing (POD), mass medication
dispensing/vaccination site. After healthcare workers and
essential emergency personnel receive theirs, the Whitman
County Public Health department has asked WSU to
designate additional personnel who may receive the
vaccination before it is dispensed publicly through a POD.
Jan. 17 • Over the next two weeks the number of new cases of the flu
dwindles. A few more people including some students die.
• Even though new cases are becoming rare, many of the severe
cases who developed complications from the symptoms of the
disease still are hospitalized and require critical care.
16Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
Feb. 1 • National media are reporting that the first wave is subsiding in
most parts of the world and throughout the country.
• Hospitals throughout the state are reporting a rapid decline in
the number of new cases. Local hospitals report no new cases
in over a week.
Feb. 23 • Health and Wellness and the Whitman County Health
Department report no new cases of the flu at WSU or in the
county for the last four weeks.
• Fatalities in the county, including WSU, total 46.
• WSU announces WSU will return to full operations by March 5
and units are to begin phasing in restoration of all services and
operations now, to be fully ready by the 5th. Non-essential
employees are recalled to work.
• WSU also decides to re-open classes at all campuses for a special
shortened spring semester that will run from March 12-June 1.
Additional distance education classes are organized to maintain
educational continuity for those that cannot return.
March 1 • President Bush goes on national television to announce that the
CDC and the WHO have concluded that the First Wave is over,
but warns that a Second Wave could appear in two to three
months.
March 12 • The special session of classes at all WSU campuses begins.
Only about 30% of the students return for classes on the
Pullman campus. Numbers are higher at the regional
campuses. Distance education works hard to keep up with the
demand for the on-line courses.
Questions for this Module
1. Do you think your unit has personnel that should be included in a special
essential personnel priority vaccination list? Why?
2. How can your unit assist Human Resources to identify those who have
recovered from the flu and are again available for work?
3. What does your unit have to do at this stage to recover, restore operations
and prepare for full startup of the University again?
17Washington State University – Unit Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Emergency Exercise
EXERCISE WRAP-UP
1. In your opinion, what is the number one issue this exercise identified that
your unit needs to address to be prepared for a pandemic?
2. What weaknesses did the exercise expose in your unit emergency planning
and readiness? Explain.
3. What suggestions would your unit like to make to WSU to enable WSU to
quickly make the best decisions regarding emergency response to a
pandemic?
4. What should be your next steps to improve your units preparedness, planning
or response to a pandemic or any other major emergency?
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